Ralph Ippolito was born in Paterson, New Jersey, and began his dance training at the age of seven. In 1998, Mr. Ippolito began studying at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet. While a student, Mr. Ippolito performed with NYCB in Peter Martins' Swan Lake and Christopher Wheeldon's Scènes de Ballet. In October 2005, Mr. Ippolito became an apprentice with NYCB, and the following October he joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet.